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03-05-2026
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies were projected to win two of four state elections, exit polls showed on Wednesday, projecting a surprise gain that would strengthen the party’s dominance across the country. Modi’s BJP has won most state elections since a shocking performance in the 2024 general election when it lost its outright majority and had to rely on alliance partners to form a government.
Millions of Indians queued to vote in local elections in two states on Thursday, kicking off four key contests this month amid a war in the Middle East that has triggered some fuel shortages, even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept domestic prices in check.
State elections do not directly affect the stability of India’s federal government but are closely watched as a test of voter sentiment toward the ruling coalition. Opinion polls predict an easy win for an alliance led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in one state and tight contests in two others. The fourth is likely to stay with the opposition.
Voting was under way in Assam and Kerala, along with the federally administered territory of Puducherry, while West Bengal and Tamil Nadu will vote later this month. Results from all the elections are due on May 4.
A BJP‑led alliance has ruled Assam for two successive terms and is expected to win again, according to public opinion platform Vote Vibe, while the opposition is set to retain Kerala.
In West Bengal, where the removal of large numbers of names from voter rolls during a revision exercise has become a major issue, the ruling regional party is ahead in a tight race, a Vote Vibe survey for broadcaster CNN‑News18 showed.
The Hindu nationalist BJP has never ruled West Bengal but says it wants to win to curb what it calls illegal immigration from neighboring Muslim‑majority Bangladesh.
In Tamil Nadu, a coalition that includes the BJP is expected to mount a close challenge against a ruling regional party, Vote Vibe said.
Vote Vibe founder Amitabh Tiwari said it was unclear what role global energy disruptions would play in the elections, but surveys by his agency showed voters broadly praised the Modi government’s handling of energy security since the Iran war began in late February
The eastern states of Assam and West Bengal, the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, along with the federally administered territory of Puducherry, are all electing new governments.
Voting ended on Wednesday. Ballots will be counted on May 4 and results announced the same day.
A BJP‑led alliance has ruled Assam for the last 10 years. It is projected to easily win a majority and return to power for a third straight term.
In West Bengal, where BJP fought a pitched battle against the ruling Trinamool Congress party, most pollsters predicted an upset win for BJP.
Top BJP leaders, including Modi, campaigned for weeks in West Bengal, focusing on who they say are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh and the weak economy as key issues.
In Tamil Nadu, a major industrial hub for electronics and automobiles, the ruling regional DMK party’s alliance was projected to win a second straight term.
In Kerala, the only state ruled by communists, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its allies are likely to lose to an opposition alliance led by the Congress party in a tight race, exit polls showed.
